Improvement in processes of treating tobacco



' [UNITE STATES EATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. PHILIPS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES OI TREATING TOBACCO.

Specification forming part oflLettcrs Patent No. 222,530, dated December9, 1879; application filed February 4, 1879.

To all whom it may concert w"; H Be it known that I, Onarirns S PHILIPS,of Brooklyn; in the countyof Kings and State of New York, have inventeda new and Improved Process of Treating Tobacco, of which the followingisa specification.

My invention relates to a new process of imparting totobaccoammoniacalvapors, and hasfor its object the neutralizing inthe tobaccofof certainobjectionableodors, which are i created in the tobacco when itis exposedto a high degree of heat, either moist or dry.

The color of tobacco used fOnmanufact-uring cigars has become a matterof much study and attentiomas less tobacco of adark color is grown thanis sufficient to meetthe wants- 7 of commerce and manufacturers. Thishas been the cause of making many devices for I giving a dark color totobacco by, exposing it to a high teniperaturawhereby a darker colorwill be developed. This proceeding is accompanied with generating in thetobacco a very objectionable odor, which had odor will adhere to thetobacco and impair its value. Many devices forremovingthe said odor havefailed,

I have discovered that by exposing the tobacco to the action ofthe'vaporsof ammonia 1 the aforesaid bad odor is thoroughly overcome, 1.j andgthe tobacco willliave as natural and good.

a flavor as if it hadnot-gone through any treatnientwhich would afl'ectits good odor or quality. 7

I have further discovered that the tobacco will readily absorb, and itsconstituent bodies will combine with-the? aforesaid animoniacal vapors,whereby whatever ammonia calproperties the tobacco originally contained,I but lost during-it atment, are replaced.

In carrying on vention I use an apart I mentin size according wineamount of to bacco to betr'eatedandsufliciently air-tightto.

prevent the escapefiof the ammonia vapors. The tobacco isplaced thereiningsuch a man- *"ner that thefammonia vapors arising from below findaccess to all parts of the. tobacco. I. therefore place the tobacco onracks or shelves which are a. littleseparatedfrom each other, orI h angitup y For evaporating the ammonia I use the ordinary aqua-ammonia ofcommerce. I rely on the action which the air has on it and place it inshallow pans, and place these pans on the floor underneath the tobaccoin various parts of the aforesaid air-tight room or apartment. Thenature of ammonia is such that it will spontaneously pass into vapor,which rises and penetrates the tobacco. A few hours will suffice tobring about the desired result. The tobacco is then ready for use or tobe packed for future use.

I do not broadly claim the application of ammonia to tobacco, as it is awell-known fact that ammonia is very much used by adding it to the waterused for wetting or moistening the tobacco preparatory to fermenting orsweating the same; but the ammonia so used is decomposed and driven outof the tobacco during a forced sweat by high heat, thus doin g no good.Ammonia so used leaves a salty deposit on the leaf, which gives tocigars a grayish mold-like appearance, While ammonia vapors have noobjectionable features.

I am aware that ammonia has been used in the same way and for thesamepurpose, but in connectionwith other materials or ingredients, andalso diffused through tobacco during the artificial sweating process,which occurs at a temperature of about 200 Fahrenheit; but it isdissipated by the heat to a very great degree, if not altogether; henceI apply the ammonia after the sweating process.

. Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent V A process of curing tobacco for smokingpurposes, that consists in sweating the leaf under a high and moisttemperature until it assumes a dark color, and then applying am--moniacal vapor until the empyreumatic ,odor is removed.

GHARLES- S. PHILIPS.

Witnesses:

GEO. M. Hornnvs, O. SEDGWICK.

